Picking up a board for the wife - Snowboarding Forum

backstop13 · 01-04-2013, 02:25 PM

I'm looking to grab a board for the spousal unit. She has learned over the past two years on crappy rental gear, and to my surprise, never found a dominate foot and rides switch frequently. I was thinking of grabbing her a twin board that is fairly flexy and forgiving. She doesn't like speed, and tends to just cruise around.

I had my eye on the NS pandora, but I don't know if that's the best board for her. Any other suggestions?

Also, she's 5'3, 115, size 7 shoe. Since we're on the east coast and don't ever get to ride pow, would there be any problem with shortening up and going with a 143-145cm board?

Thanks in advance.

blockay · 01-04-2013, 02:34 PM

the yes basic is a good playful board with a true twin shape.

stealthyc · 01-04-2013, 05:18 PM

The Roxy Ollie Pop is so fun (rocker/camber hybrid with magnetraction...really nice for the east coast.) The Niche Minx is fun, lightweight and has lots of pop (flat camber). Arbor's Cadence is another great all around board (parabolic rocker also with grip tech which is Arbor's version of magnetraction.) That size range should be perfectly fine given her size and these are all true twins. Whatever you get for her will be worlds better than the rental stuff she is riding!

Kayeby · 01-04-2013, 05:58 PM

Gnu B-Nice is another one with magnetraction.

I'm your wife's height and weight with a size 4 boot and I'm on a 146cm NS Pandora. It's my first season so I don't really know what to look for in a board but it's very forgiving and easier to turn than the smaller rentals I was on. It's also more stable than I would have thought a freestyle board would be (though I'm not exactly tearing down the mountain).

Flaus · 01-04-2013, 06:05 PM

Can also check out the Rossignol Diva Magetk. I got one for my wife for ice coast riding (md/pa). Bites in really well on hardback since it has Magnetraction and hybrid rocker/camber/rock shape. Not true twin though.

cocolulu · 01-04-2013, 06:27 PM

I would also second the Arbor Cadence. It's a great board and it's rather light weight. Grip Tech for Arbor is kind of a milder Magnetraction I suppose.

I have an NS Infinity, not a Pandora, but I can say that NS boards are pretty awesome as well. NS boards are a bit on the heavy side, but if your wife is ok with that, it rides awesome, is damp and really durable.

My main complaint about GNU/Roxy/Mervin boards are that the metal edges don't cover the tips, so the tips can get scuffed up over time. But otherwise, the Roxy Ollie-Pop, and GNU's women's twin boards are probably good for the east coast.

Smokin licenses magnetraction from Mervin, and they make what seems like great snowboards, but I've never ridden any.

stealthyc · 01-04-2013, 06:44 PM

The idea behind not wrapping the tip and tail is if you blow one out you can repair it, whereas if you have a wrapped edge, you're looking at replacing the whole edge which is not a small job. It also supposedly saves weight...not sure how relevant all of that is, but I don't think not having the tip and tail wrapped should be a deterrent.

Smokin is interesting...they make great boards in theory, and a lot of people like them...the tech is all there. But I rode a Vixen last year and thought I was going to kill myself on it. It was squirrely and grabby and washed out...it was basically a disaster, could not get it back fast enough. Could have been a really bad detuning job on the one I rode, but if you look toward the Vixen, check their weight charts...you might want to go a little bigger than you were thinking to get the stability your wife would probably want.

Kayeby mentioned the B-Nice. It's a great beginner board...rocker with mag. I know 90% rider, 10% equip. But if you want something that is just going to feel good and feel like you could confidently do whatever you want on it, you might want a little more board and a little less rocker than the B-Nice.

RockyMTNsteeze · 01-05-2013, 02:08 AM

143-145 is around the right size for 115 pounds, it also depends on the weight specs. I rode a 141cm twin tipped snowboard at 115 pounds. Park boards are meant to be ridden at short lengths.

Triple8Sol · 01-05-2013, 05:34 AM

Shameless plug, but this one seems perfect for her. Right size, softer forgiving flex, and catchfree TBT shape to continue building up her speed/confidence: http://www.snowboardingforum.com/buy...46-womens.html

Noreaster · 01-05-2013, 05:50 AM

Go with Ollie Pop rather than Diva or B-Pro if you want a softer more forgiving board. Pandora is a complete noodle you can literally fold it in half, not good for cruising. Unless you want to get her a strict park board don't get anything shorter than 145. She should do well with 145-146.

01-04-2013, 02:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
backstop13 -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 512	Picking up a board for the wife I'm looking to grab a board for the spousal unit. She has learned over the past two years on crappy rental gear, and to my surprise, never found a dominate foot and rides switch frequently. I was thinking of grabbing her a twin board that is fairly flexy and forgiving. She doesn't like speed, and tends to just cruise around. I had my eye on the NS pandora, but I don't know if that's the best board for her. Any other suggestions? Also, she's 5'3, 115, size 7 shoe. Since we're on the east coast and don't ever get to ride pow, would there be any problem with shortening up and going with a 143-145cm board? Thanks in advance.

01-05-2013, 02:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
RockyMTNsteeze Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Rocky Mountains Posts: 228	143-145 is around the right size for 115 pounds, it also depends on the weight specs. I rode a 141cm twin tipped snowboard at 115 pounds. Park boards are meant to be ridden at short lengths. __________________ http://www.etsy.com/shop/RockyMTNsteeze IT AINT EAZY BEIN STEEZY

01-05-2013, 05:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
Triple8Sol Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 3,686 Blog Entries: 1	Shameless plug, but this one seems perfect for her. Right size, softer forgiving flex, and catchfree TBT shape to continue building up her speed/confidence: http://www.snowboardingforum.com/buy...46-womens.html __________________ 14 NeverSummer Proto HD . 13 Never Summer Cobra . 12 Gnu Rider's Choice C2PTX 13 Now IPO . 12 K2 Formula . 11 K2 Formula 13 NB x 686 580

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01-04-2013, 02:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
blockay Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 47	the yes basic is a good playful board with a true twin shape.

01-04-2013, 05:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
stealthyc Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 46	The Roxy Ollie Pop is so fun (rocker/camber hybrid with magnetraction...really nice for the east coast.) The Niche Minx is fun, lightweight and has lots of pop (flat camber). Arbor's Cadence is another great all around board (parabolic rocker also with grip tech which is Arbor's version of magnetraction.) That size range should be perfectly fine given her size and these are all true twins. Whatever you get for her will be worlds better than the rental stuff she is riding!

01-04-2013, 05:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kayeby Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 30	Gnu B-Nice is another one with magnetraction. I'm your wife's height and weight with a size 4 boot and I'm on a 146cm NS Pandora. It's my first season so I don't really know what to look for in a board but it's very forgiving and easier to turn than the smaller rentals I was on. It's also more stable than I would have thought a freestyle board would be (though I'm not exactly tearing down the mountain).

01-04-2013, 06:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
Flaus Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 80	Can also check out the Rossignol Diva Magetk. I got one for my wife for ice coast riding (md/pa). Bites in really well on hardback since it has Magnetraction and hybrid rocker/camber/rock shape. Not true twin though.

01-04-2013, 06:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
cocolulu Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 203	I would also second the Arbor Cadence. It's a great board and it's rather light weight. Grip Tech for Arbor is kind of a milder Magnetraction I suppose. I have an NS Infinity, not a Pandora, but I can say that NS boards are pretty awesome as well. NS boards are a bit on the heavy side, but if your wife is ok with that, it rides awesome, is damp and really durable. My main complaint about GNU/Roxy/Mervin boards are that the metal edges don't cover the tips, so the tips can get scuffed up over time. But otherwise, the Roxy Ollie-Pop, and GNU's women's twin boards are probably good for the east coast. Smokin licenses magnetraction from Mervin, and they make what seems like great snowboards, but I've never ridden any.

01-04-2013, 06:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
stealthyc Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 46	The idea behind not wrapping the tip and tail is if you blow one out you can repair it, whereas if you have a wrapped edge, you're looking at replacing the whole edge which is not a small job. It also supposedly saves weight...not sure how relevant all of that is, but I don't think not having the tip and tail wrapped should be a deterrent. Smokin is interesting...they make great boards in theory, and a lot of people like them...the tech is all there. But I rode a Vixen last year and thought I was going to kill myself on it. It was squirrely and grabby and washed out...it was basically a disaster, could not get it back fast enough. Could have been a really bad detuning job on the one I rode, but if you look toward the Vixen, check their weight charts...you might want to go a little bigger than you were thinking to get the stability your wife would probably want. Kayeby mentioned the B-Nice. It's a great beginner board...rocker with mag. I know 90% rider, 10% equip. But if you want something that is just going to feel good and feel like you could confidently do whatever you want on it, you might want a little more board and a little less rocker than the B-Nice.

01-05-2013, 05:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
Noreaster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 146	Go with Ollie Pop rather than Diva or B-Pro if you want a softer more forgiving board. Pandora is a complete noodle you can literally fold it in half, not good for cruising. Unless you want to get her a strict park board don't get anything shorter than 145. She should do well with 145-146.